Transitional Services
With unemployment continuing to hover at an unacceptable rate nationally and the joblessness rate for new veterans aged 18-24 rate averaging 20.4% in 2012, more than five percentage points higher than the average among non-veterans aged 18-24, it’s clear that the world of work has changed and an innovative approach to career transition is needed.
The White House estimates nearly 1 million veterans will enter the civilian workforce over the next five years. In a recent New York Times article, Jane Oates, assistant Sec of Dept. of Labor, stated, “I think transitions have been especially difficult because there are too few jobs and our soldiers lack the clarity of what they or employers want.”
We train Soldiers rigorously before we send them into combat. We would never let them approach a battlefield without knowing they are well prepared to face any contingency. Yet, we are doing little to no training to prepare them to compete against the thousands who are vying for the same position they want in the job market.
“Frankly, I believe the nation has misdiagnosed problem. In his book, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman suggests the world, as we know it, is no longer round, but flat. The essential point is the convergence of technology and events have created an environment in which individuals, businesses, communities, entire countries we once thought as “third-world” can now compete for influence and impact on the world stage. This flattening, as he describes it, has empowered countries like China and India to become economic powerhouses, competing with America and Europe for goods and services resulting in cheap goods, cheap services and most importantly, and yes – cheap labor. I suggest the world is not only flattening, but tilting – TILTING AWAY FROM AMERICAN WORKERS,” says Clarence Lowe, CEO and Cofounder of STAR FORCE.
Not recognizing this paradigm shift has caused many workforce development solutions to remain transactional in nature. Today’s economy demands a different approach – a transformative, holistic approach.
Here are a few tips for transitioning veterans:
- Prepare: A good resume is not enough! Develop a clear life and career vision, mission and value statement. Most know to prepare for an interview by researching the company, but knowing yourself is far more important. What is your value? What problem do you solve?
- Promote: Develop strategies and tactics which ensure you achieve your life and career objectives. How are you promoting your talents, strengths and skills? Promote to not only be competitive, but to prove your competency because of your military experience – loyalty, discipline, skill, self-confidence, leadership, etc.
- Persistent: Any job search will inevitably result in a few obstacles and some setbacks. Learn to be persistent and develop a resilient attitude. It’s been argued that the key to success is your ability to bounce back from life’s challenges and persist in spite of difficulties.
The transition from military to civilian life is often a difficult one. Veterans move from an environment centered on interdependence to one focused on independence and self-sufficiency. Our program ensures a smooth, successful military transition for exiting personnel. Our highly experienced career coaches guide job seekers through a customized program of assessments, personal training and coaching – all designed to empower participants with the cognitive and performance tools necessary to succeed in today’s competitive workforce.
“The only certain thing about life is that it will change! STAR FORCE recognizes everyone’s experience with career change is unique. As a business owner and a service disabled veteran, I know our men and women exiting the military are facing unprecedented employment challenges. They’ve earned the support needed to put them on the road to success. STAR FORCE’s job readiness program provides the cognitive tools, perspectives, and practical exercises necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century.” Clarence Lowe, CEO and Cofounder STAR FORCE
“People Make The Difference”
